Relationship between inferior mesenteric artery diameter and rectal cancer

INTRODUCTION: A dilated inferior mesenteric vein has been reported in rectal cancer patients. However, no study has yet reported inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) enlargement in rectal cancer. We aimed to assess the relationship between the IMA diameter and rectal cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with rectal cancer and a control group of 42 patients in our hospital from July 2017 to June 2019 were evaluated. The IMA diameter was independently measured by two observers on axial computed tomography images. RESULTS: The mean IMA diameter was wider in rectal cancer patients (2.49 ±0.53 mm) than in the control group (2.20 ±0.47 mm, p < 0.001). The IMA diameter of patients with stage I, stage II, stage III, and stage IV cancers was 2.24 ±0.36 mm, 2.45 ±0.39 mm, 2.80 ±0.55 mm, and 2.85 ±0.51 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). The IMA diameter correlated positively and moderately with TNM stage (r = 0.519, p < 0.001). The IMA diameter of patients with T1, T2, T3, and T4 tumors was 2.18 ±0.31 mm, 2.39 ±0.50 mm, 2.55 ±0.48 mm, and 2.73 ±0.51 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). The IMA diameter also correlated positively and moderately with T stage (r = 0.457, p < 0.001). The IMA diameter of patients with N0, N1, and N2 tumors was 2.37 ±0.39 mm, 2.83 ±0.60 mm, and 2.71 ±0.40 mm, respectively (p < 0.001); however, the IMA diameter did not correlate with N stage (r = 0.166, p = 0.077). Patients with M1 tumors had a wider IMA diameter than patients with M0 tumors (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The IMA in rectal cancer patients enlarges as the TNM stage gets higher. The IMA diameter can be accepted as a possibly important marker for the staging of rectal cancer.